Dublin sees Arsenal fall to Real Betis in friendly defeat
Match Overview
Arsenal experienced a 3-1 defeat against Real Betis in a friendly match held in Dublin. The Gunners conceded three goals in the first half, a performance described as uncharacteristically sloppy. Despite having less possession, Real Betis, managed by former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, demonstrated greater threat throughout the game, registering more shots on target than Mikel Arteta’s side.
Mikel Arteta expressed his team’s frustration following the loss, noting that the players were “fuming” about their first-half display. He acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in how the team competed around their own box.
Key Moments and Goals
Arsenal initially controlled possession, and Viktor Gyokeres had an early opportunity to score but was denied by Alvaro Valles. However, Real Betis took the lead in the ninth minute from a corner. Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudged the set-piece from Pablo Fornals, allowing an unmarked Rodrigo Riquelme to score at the back post.
Nelson Deossa extended Real Betis’ lead in the 26th minute with a strike from approximately 25 yards after a clearance from Kepa. Piero Hincapie briefly reduced the deficit for Arsenal in the 32nd minute, heading in a corner from Christos Tzolis. However, Pablo Fornals restored Real Betis’ two-goal advantage in the 43rd minute, capitalizing on a misplaced pass from Kai Havertz.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was noted as one of Arsenal’s better performers in midfield, also covering for Riccardo Calafiori when the latter made attacking runs. Christos Tzolis, who scored against Girona, had a chance to equalize but shot wide.
Squad Changes and Injuries
Arteta made seven changes at half-time, introducing Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, who were returning to club action after representing Brazil at the World Cup. Among the other changes were 16-year-old defender Marli Salmon and 19-year-old midfielder Louie Copley. However, Copley was withdrawn just seven minutes after coming on due to a knee injury sustained after an awkward landing while chasing the ball. Arteta expressed concern about Copley’s injury, stating that the mechanism did not look positive.
Several key players were unavailable for Arsenal, including Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and Bukayo Saka, who had not yet rejoined the squad after their World Cup campaign with England. Spain’s World Cup winners Mikel Merino, David Raya, and Martin Zubimendi were also absent. Martin Odegaard, however, has resumed individual training after his participation with Norway in the tournament.
The starting lineup for Arsenal against Real Betis included four international defenders, along with Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, Christos Tzolis, and Max Dowman in midfield, with Viktor Gyokeres leading the attack.
Post-Match Reflections
Arteta acknowledged that while the defeat was disappointing, particularly given the first-half performance, it could serve to “create even more fire in the belly” for the team. He emphasized that giving away sloppy goals in a friendly is preferable to doing so in an official match, highlighting the need for improvement in competitive standards.
The match was officiated by Robert Hennessy, with Dermot Broughton and Emmet Dynan as assistant referees, and Aaron O’Dowd as the fourth official. Real Betis will be participating in this season’s Champions League after a 20-year absence, having finished fifth in their division.
Source: bbc.com
Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”
